Shutouts Galore

December 5, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release


Rewind:
Friday, Bridgeport 4 vs. LOCK MONSTERS 0
Wade Dubielwicz and Chris Madden combined for a 30-save shutout for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers over the Lock Monsters on Friday night at Tsongas Arena. The Tigers used four different goal scorers, while Lowell was blanked for the first time all season.

Saturday, LOCK MONSTERS 2 vs. Providence 0
This time it was Vitaly Kolesnik's turn, as he stopped all 35 Bruins shots for his second shutout of the season, 2-0 over Providence on Teddy Bear Toss Night. Chad LaRose provided the magic for the evening by scoring the goal that prompted the stuffed animal launch, and he later added an empty net goal for his second shortie of the game.

Sunday, PROVIDENCE 3 vs. Lock Monsters 0
The Lock Monsters traveled to Providence on Sunday afternoon to wrap up the home and home series, and suffered a 3-0 shutout at the hands of the Bruins. Tim Thomas, who faced 36 Monsters shots and surrendered only one on Saturday, had a much easier game on Sunday, kicking out 15 shots for the win. Vitaly Kolesnik made 37 saves in the loss.

This Week:
Wednesday, LOCK MONSTERS vs. Springfield Falcons, 7:05 p.m.
This will be the fourth meeting of the season between the two Atlantic Division rivals. Lowell picked up a 7-3 win back on October 28th, but the Falcons have bounced back with two straight victories.

Friday, Lock Monsters @ Providence Bruins, 7:05 p.m.
The Lock Monsters and Bruins meet for the third time in eight days and fourth time on the season. Lowell is 2-1 against the Bruins, including 1-1 on the road.

Saturday, LOCK MONSTERS vs. Portland Pirates, 7:35 p.m.
The Portland Pirates come to town for Patriots Night at Tsongas Arena on Saturday. Select members of the New England Patriots Cheerleaders will be performing and signing autographs. Plus, enter to win an autographed Rodney Harrison Pats helmet, courtesy of Nashua Sports Collectibles.

Individual tickets start at $10 and are on sale now at the Tsongas Arena box office, which is open from 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:00 - 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Flex Packs and Holiday Hat Trick packages make great gifts for the holidays, and are on sale now. Contact the Lock Monsters ticket office at (978) 458-PUCK (7825) for more information. All games, home and away, can be heard live on 980 WCAP and viewed through B2 Networks online with the Voice of the Monsters, Ryan Johnston.

Monsters Memos
- RW Chad LaRose became the eighth Lock Monsters player recalled to the NHL this season from Lowell when the Canes gave him the call on Sunday. RW Craig Adams, LW Andrew Ladd, G Kevin Nastiuk and D Danny Richmond all have been called up to Carolina, while LW Paul Healey, LW Cody McCormick and C Brad Richardson all have gone up to Colorado.
- LaRose's two shorthanded goals on Saturday night gives him three this season and five in his Lock Monsters career. That puts him at third in all-time Lock Monsters history. Lowell is tied for the league lead with eight shorthanded goals.
- Vitaly Kolesnik saw action in all three games this weekend, allowing three goals on 84 shots for a..964 save percentage, with one shutout and one relief appearance. His 1.19 GAA on the weekend dropped him to 2.80 on the season. The rookie from Kazakhstan leads the league in minutes played and saves.
- Kolesnik has faced 30 or more shots in 14 of his 19 starts this season, for a league-high 617 shots. Only three other goalies have seen more than 500 shots in the AHL and he is the only one who has faced 600.
- LW Gordie Dwyer's four PIM last night in Providence moved him past Ray Schultz and into 4th place in all-time Lock Monsters history with 218 career penalty minutes. The record is 256 by Rich Brennan.
- The loss of Keith Aucoin and David Gove to injury and LaRose to recall, all this weekend, removed 41% of the teams goals for Sunday's game, a 3-0 shut out at the hands of the Providence Bruins.
- Cam Ward, the AHL All-Rookie Team goaltender last year with the Lock Monsters, became part of the NHL record books on Saturday. He and fellow Canes G Martin Gerber became the first NHL goaltending tandem to each record an assist in the same game. Ward recorded an assist on an Eric Staal goal, and Gerber recorded an assist after replacing him in the third.

Leaders
Goals - LaRose (14)
Assists - Aucoin (19)
Points - Aucoin (29)
PIM - Love (62)
Plus/Minus - LaRose (+11)

AHL Leaders
Aucoin - t-4th in points, 29
Aucoin - t-3rd in assists, 19
LaRose - t-1st in shorthanded goals, 3
LaRose - t-7th in goals, 12
LaRose - t-12th in points, 25
Kolesnik - 1st in minutes played, 1,115
Kolesnik - 1st in saves, 565
Forbes - t-20th in points, 23
Gove - t-3rd in shorthanded goals, 2
Team - 3rd in penalty killing, 87.5%


CCM/Vector AHL Player of the Week Nomination
G Vitaly Kolesnik
The Lock Monsters rookie goalie from Kazakhstan appeared in all three games this weekend for the Monsters, going 1-1-0 with a no-decision relief appearance on Friday. He recorded his second shutout of the season on Saturday and allowed only three goals on 84 shots on the weekend. Kolesnik extended his league lead in minutes played and saves in the process.

Day Date Opponent W L OTL GAA SH SV
Fri 12/2 BRI 0 0 0 1 10 9
Sat 12/3 PRO 1 0 0 0 35 35
Sun 12/4 @ PRO 0 1 0 2 39 37
Totals 3 gp 1 1 0 1.19 84 81 (.964 save %)



American Hockey League Stories from December 5, 2005


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